Renato Veiga has performed down the concept Portugal are favorites heading into the World Cup, however insists Roberto Martínez’s group are the North American favorites.
Portugal will start Group Okay play towards the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 17, with Uzbekistan and Colombia being the opposite opponents within the first stage of the match.
The Selecao have another pre-competition pleasant on Wednesday and shall be hoping to construct on their 2-1 win over Chile, during which Rafael Leao was despatched off. towards Nigeria.
Portugal have by no means gained a World Cup, their finest end result being third place in England in 1966, and so they have been eradicated within the quarter-finals in Qatar 4 years in the past.
Martinez’s aspect have been assigned a 7% probability of profitable the World Cup by the Opta supercomputer, rating them fifth finest in pre-tournament simulations.
And Veiga, who was a part of the Portugal squad that gained the Nations League final yr, believes his group has each probability to compete within the later phases.
“You may’t deny Portugal’s high quality,” the Villarreal centre-back stated on Monday. “We’re a contender, not a favourite to win. For now, we’re only a contender.”
Portugal have chosen a powerful 26-man squad for the World Cup, with Cristiano Ronaldo serving as captain in his sixth look within the match.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes may even be collaborating on this match having achieved glorious ends in particular person matches within the Premier League. He recorded 21 assists within the 2025-26 season, breaking the competitors’s single-season help document.
Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Vicinha and Gonzalo Ramos helped Paris Saint-Germain retain the Ligue 1 and Champions League titles, and Veiga believes a profitable mentality inside the squad shall be key to the World Cup.
“I feel our locker room is our best asset,” Veiga added. “The ambiance is nice with nice folks and it helps me deliver out my finest on the sphere.
“Whoever performs, he will certainly give his finest. In fact there’s at all times competitors inside the group, however the true competitors is exterior, with the opponents.”
